Fioresi Rocks

A New Year - A New Post

2011-01-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

Wow! I haven't posted since April of 2010. That's almost enough time that any of the 14 subscribers to my blog might've thought that I had acquired a life. Wrong. I can't think of anything that was so profound that made me stop blogging but I've decided to pick up where I left off. All in all, 2010 ended on a great note and I am very grateful that my family is healthy and happy. As a result

A Note to the Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

2010-04-03T11:47:00.001-07:00

You know what chaps my hide? People who behave like jackasses and then run and hide behind their Jesus while all the while proclaiming that they are sinners "Saved by the Grace of God". There are those who sing the praises of the bible one minute and the next minute, they are finger-pointing and spewing hate. Does being "saved" REALLY give one a green light to act like a jackass one

Response from New York & Company

2009-12-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

In the previous post, I made mention of the poor customer service I received at New York & Company. I emailed them a copy of the letter and below is what I received from them:"Thank you for contacting New York & Company. We are committed to addressing your concerns and look forward to assisting you. Please contact our customer service department Monday through Friday between 8:30am - 5:30pm

Customer Service Gripe - New York & Co.

2009-12-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

Seems like I am continually complaining about customer service.Here's a copy of a letter I just emailed and sent via hard copy. I don't know what I can post with respect to company names so let's just say it sounds similar to "Yew Nork and Company" To Whom It May Concern: I had occasion to shop in your San Bruno, California store located in the Shops at Tanforan on December 27, 2009. I

Have you seen THIS? If so. please return

2009-12-27T16:11:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2009-12-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

Definitely not your standard Christmas decor but I sure had a great time designing it all!

…..the better one

2009-10-27T19:46:00.001-07:00

Print these coupons...About

Our Baby Chi, Berty

2009-03-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Our Little Miss Berty is getting along just fine! I don't have much opportunity to photograph her as either she is glued to my side or she's running around like a little psycho terrorizing our two cats.We are having lots of fun with her!

Spring Ahead! Fall Back!

2009-03-07T13:00:00.001-08:00

At 2 a.m. tomorrow morning, the West Coast will officially gain another hour or so of daylight. I'm not sure why we change back and forth. As a child, I was told that it was so farmers could have extra daylight to tend to their fields. Dark or light, I have no fields to tend to but I do appreciate the extra daylight.Aside from having an extra hour of daylight, there's one more miracle that

Thanks again, Jason!

2009-03-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

Most moms wouldn't take their 18 year old sons to get a tattoo but then I'm NOT like most moms. While we are by no means "white trash", I like to refer to us as "white clutter".Anyhow getting back to the topic at hand:Ever since my stepson was a young boy, he told me that when he turned 18, he wanted to get a tattoo.Rather than have him venture to some seedy tattoo shop with questionable hygiene

Brilliant Concept, Difficult Execution!

2009-02-27T19:35:00.000-08:00

There are a few companies out there who have come out with protective rubber tips to place on your cat's claws in order to prevent them from doing damage to your furniture or accidentally scratching your puppy. Mind you Olly hasn't scratched Bertie as of yet but I have witnessed a few swats and the thought of him catching her in the eye is quite scary.De-clawing is completely out of the question

Arancini - Yum!

2009-02-27T17:06:00.000-08:00

To serve 4 you'll need: 1 1/2 cups riceHalf a packet of saffron (a few pistils, about 1/8 teaspoon)1 cup grated Parmigiano (freshly grated, not from a can)4 eggs2/3 pound (300 g) ground beef2 tablespoons tomato paste1 clove garlic1/2 a small onionA packed quarter cup dried porcini1/3 cup olive oil1/2 cup dry red wine1/4 pound mozzarella or fresh, soft provolone (if you're in Sicily you will want

Just Another Day at Cute Puppy Headquarters

2009-02-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

My little gal is sportin' her latest acquisitions from Pet Flys, Inc. For quality pet apparel, carriers, toys and other cute items, visit their site:www.petflys.com

Projects - Animated Style

2009-02-26T19:27:00.001-08:00

Houston! We have erection!

2009-02-25T13:42:00.000-08:00

They told me "it" would happen but that one floppy ear had me sweatin' bullets. Being a Virgo, I tend to feel a little unsettled if something is out of proportion and this little gal's floppy ear had me very unsettled. When she first came, it was flopping ::gasps:: backward. About a week later, it moved to the forward flopping position.This morning I woke up to find out that the "un-floppy ear"

Where Oh Where Has Customer Service Gone...?

2009-02-25T10:46:00.000-08:00

Last week, my family and I decided to go out for dinner. After driving around, we ended up at “Schmarie Shmallenders”. While hubby parked the car, I ran in to get a table. I walked up to the podium where a host and waitress were engrossed in deep conversation. The waitress was sitting on the arm of the couch twirling her hair and chewing gum and ranted about how hung-over she was. The host

I got animals comin' out of my ears!

2009-02-23T21:43:00.001-08:00

Anyone who owns a cat knows that they think everything that comes into their home belongs to them.Here's Olly in the puppy's new doggie carrier which just got delivered today.He looks just plain silly in a pink dog carrier.As you can tell, the puppy could careless. All's well as long as she has her chewie. Which incidentally, is almost as big as she is.She's a good little puppy. I think we

Ugh....................Rain Damage (again!)

2009-02-22T20:14:00.000-08:00

It's raining, it's pouring, our ground floor toilet has mud coming up through the toilet and shower!This sounds "expensive"!Oh, the plight of the homeowner!

Crazy Cat

2009-02-22T11:50:00.001-08:00

If our cat sees an empty box, he will hole up and just lay there for hours.

No Name

2009-02-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

This little baby "needs" a name. She's been with us for four days now and she's an absolute doll! A nameless doll.For the life of me, I can't come up with a name!I feel like I need to take my time to find an appropriate name for her. There are certain conditions that must be met when naming a pet. I must be able to add an "ie" or "y"to the end of the name. We have a "Max" who I refer to as "

Cleaning House

2009-02-18T19:15:00.000-08:00

Over the last few months, I tried to get caught up in the whole Facebook craze. For those of you not in the know, Facebook is like "My Space" on steroids. People/Co-Workers/Former Classmates look you up and send you a "Friend Request". Of course, you accept because it's natural to want friends. Also, to be honest, it's quite a stroke to the ego to think that others are thinking of you (cue

Stila Creme Bouquet - FINALLY coming back to a store near you!

2009-02-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

Jeez Louise. Stila's gotta get on the ball. Their Creme Bouquet sells out faster than (insert witty euphemism here).I sent an email inquiring begging and pleading with Stila's Customer Service (see a copy of my email below) to see if the scent had been discontinued. Here' s a copy of that email:Dear Stila,Will the fragrance "Stila Creme Bouquet" EVER be made again or I should I abandon hope

One more cute puppy pic

2009-02-17T20:43:00.001-08:00

"...........takin' care of business and workin' overtime....."

Yeah, Whatever…

2009-02-17T19:30:00.001-08:00

Hubby said...... "No MORE dogs, Angela!" He wants nothing to do with the puppy and he certainly wasn't caught napping with a puppy on his chest.I think it's time dear hubby realize that there's a new sheriff in town who stands about five inches tall and weighs just over a pound and a half.

Introductions - Bella and New Puppy

2009-02-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

Getting to know each other.

Went to an Art Exhibit Last Night

2009-02-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

You know what the best part of the art show was? Leaving! An art aficionado, I am not.They were featuring works by Bertho (NOT pronounced Bertho). I was corrected by a snooty gallery employee with a borrowed French accent, it's pronounced "Bair-Toh").And some odd stuff by Deyber:What I liked best about the exhibit , is that a gallery employee brought his Basset Hound Luigi who was as

Harvey Needs an @ss-Kickin!

2009-02-14T07:50:00.000-08:00

Wow! I came across this vintage Folger's commercial and my jaw almost dropped!!I'm glad I'm not married to a "Harvey". He'd be dead.

Chuck the Cemetery Chicken

2009-02-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

For those of you wondering, Chuck the Chicken is alive and well and roaming freely throughout the cemetery. He never fails to glance at my hand to see what treats I have brought for lunch. Today, it was a Kashi Pumpkin Spice Flax Bar. What can I say? I'm on a diet!Yesterday, my co-worker brought Chuck grapes and apples and canned cat food (chicken variety!) for the feral cats who have

HONOLULU by Alan Brennert

2009-02-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

(click on photo to enlarge)After reading Moloka'i, I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of Alan Brennert's newest novel "Honolulu" to arrive on my doorstep!Mr. Brennert writes with such passion and depth. If you haven't had the chance to read Moloka'i, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book as well as Honolulu!Mr. Brennert's book tour for Honolulu has been finalized, with

Here Chicky, Chicky, Chicky!

2009-02-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

These are photos of my friend feeding "Chuck the Chicken". Actually, being that we are city folk, we aren't quite sure if he's a "Chuck" or a "Chuckette".During lunch, we've been taking walks at work and a few days ago, we came across a Rhode Island Red chicken who we believe was left at the cemetery.He/She is very friendly. Here are some pics of my friend actually feeding him/her flax seed

eBay Feedback for: 350153350717 or "Nightmare Transaction from Hell"

2009-02-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

If you've ventured on over from the link on my About Me page on eBay, here is the situation with respect to the above referenced transaction. In an order to protect private information, I've hidden the seller's personal information.eBay sellers like this one are the reason I mainly buy on Etsy.com or Amazon.com. I hate to even waste time ranting about this but damn this guy really got under my

No posts?

2009-01-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

I haven't been posting here as much as I have been focusing on my sewing blog =) . I will post a link when I have it ready to go.

Goofy cat ...

2009-01-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

This is my cat Olly, just chillin' on the couch.He just needs a Coke, some chips and salsa and he'd look just like his "dad".

Change is FINALLY here!

2009-01-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

I smell "another" makeover

2009-01-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

Last year, I decided to do my bedroom in cottage-chic style and while it's very comfy and cozy, it's really not my style. Anyway, I've decided to go back to what I really like. I am going back to a simple chenille bedspread. Beautiful and timeless and I won't have to obsess about anyone touching my $150 Bella Notte pillows (let's hope I can recoup half of that back by selling them!)This will

Section 102, Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

2009-01-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

Please visit this link to Forbes.com if you are unfamiliar with Section 102:http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

Happy 1st Day of Spring!

2009-01-17T16:27:00.000-08:00

Technically, I KNOW that the first day of spring is still a little over two months away but, it's been so nice here (5 days of 70 degree weather), it FEELS like spring. To be completely honest, it actually feels like summer. We even barbecued a few days ago. While I am loving the nice weather, something very strange is happening.......I FEEL like....... cleaning - there I've said it! Because

Has ANYONE seen the remote?

2009-01-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

It seems like day in and day out, I am constantly asking where the remote control is for the TV.It seems to wind up in the most unusual of places; under the blankets, behind the headboard, under the bed or even in another room.I think I've come up with a solution. A HUGE remote control!!

You talkin to ME? Are YOU talking to ME?

2009-01-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

Featured Kid of The DayMy youngest son decided to shave his head the other day. Every year right before the start of baseball season, most of kids on his team, shave their head.Imagine my shock when he bounded up the stairs to show off his "new look". Rather than shaving his entire head, he decided to do something "a little different".We asked him to pose for a pic so he could see firsthand how

BLAME IT ON REBA!

2009-01-16T12:44:00.000-08:00

I was online looking for a map for the state of New England today. I used Google Maps and it pointed to an area just south of Boston. I thought to myself "gee, New England must be so small because it's not even on the map." Since the map wasn't giving me the information I was looking for, I decided to Wiki New England.I was quite a surprised and a little mortified to learn that there is NO

Working on a new blog header

2009-01-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, my blog header is gone. Quite frankly, I hated it. I decided I'd rather have no header than the one I was using. It was too big and looked crooked. I'd like to have something that embodies who or what "I am". I just have to figure THAT out first.Today's a day off for me...Yay! Think I'm off to see "Slumdog Millionaire".

The Post Heard Round the World

2009-01-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back, I had one post on this blog that tells my feelings with respect to Section 102 of the Consumer Product Safety Act.This one post has cause a significant bump in the visits to my blog! Last I looked, I had reached 6,000 and this is my second counter since the first one crashed at 3,700. I guess I am not the only one worried about this new policy. I will post more when I have

WTF...?

2009-01-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

Our doorbell rang a while ago. It was our faithful "never-smiling" mail man carrier lugging yet another package up the stairs to bring our home one of my terrific eBay finds.Running down the hallway with the package in her hand, my youngest daughter proclaimed "it must be something e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e cause I can hear lots of glass inside."I am fully aware that an intact piece of glass NEVER

Confessions of a Dyed-In-The-Wool Virgo

2009-01-08T19:03:00.001-08:00

Can you really ever be TOO organized?(click photo to enlarge)This evening, I FINALLY reclaimed such much needed space in my linen closet. I'd read somewhere that if you roll your sheets, they will take up less room. The sheets and towels on this particular shelf took up almost the whole shelf when I folded them in my usual manner. Now I have so much space left that to be honest, I am worried

Dancing on Our Toes

2009-01-07T21:29:00.001-08:00

Fioresi Designs has been juried into Handmade Fusion! I applied quite some time ago and to be quite honest, I had forgotten.If you've got a moment, take a peek at our store on the site: Fioresi Designs. Be sure to check out all the talented artisans on the site as well.If you're a crafter/artisan, they are welcoming new applicants.

What the heck do you have in this thing?

2009-01-07T17:42:00.001-08:00

My husband asks that very question every time I ask him to hold my purse. He also never neglects to mention how "heavy" it is. This statement coming from the man who literally moves granite for a living. He believes that I carry things that don't need to be in there.I don't believe that I carry more than the average woman and believe that now that my children are older, I carry less than the

Chargers and Cables and Cords, Oh My!

2009-01-07T15:55:00.001-08:00

My bedroom is home to a cornucopia of cords! On the floor underneath my side of the bed, I have power cords for : battery chargeriPod chargerlaptopalarm clocklampcordless phonetwo cell phone chargers(one work & one personal)a Bluetooth headset charger(which I vowed to never use! Are you like me and stare in astonishment at people talking to themselves only to discover

Who Needs Opposable Thumbs?

2009-01-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

We store the cat treats in a wicker basket on top of the fridge. Ollie decided to OPEN a brand new package and have a feast at 5:30 this morning. As you can see, his lack of opposable thumbs did not hinder his ability to open the package.

Where Oh Where Can My Ollie Be?

2009-01-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

Oh Where O Where Can He Be?I guess he thinks if he can't see me, I can't see him? However, he forgot to hide one de-"tail". Click on the photo to see how fantastic his tail is!

Untitled

2009-01-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

I was too lazy to "do my hair" today so I just blow dried it. Does this "style" just scream "Kristy McNichol - circa 1977"?Other than the ....wrinkles, ....dark circles, ....gray hair, and the ....extra weight, I pretty much look like I did at 15 years old.

My Thoughts on Section 102, Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

2009-01-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

I don't know much about this new policy but the little that I have read is quite disconcerting. This new policy isn't just about requiring large manufacturers of children's toys to conducting testing for lead and other harmful chemicals. As I understand it, EVERY manufacturer whether large or small (and yes, "crafters" who create one-of-a-kind items are considered to be manufacturers) who

Strawberry Jam

2009-01-04T09:46:00.001-08:00

After crossing the bridge to get into Strawberry, CA, we saw this unfortunate accident:The vehicle's occupants were fine and made it out of the SUV unscathed. At this point we decided to pull over at the town's ONLY market and purchased snow chains for $119.99!Breakdown of expenses so far:Oil Change (hubby said we HAD to do this for a "long" trip) 50.00Snow bib/boot rental

The Many Facets of Crafting

2009-01-02T23:13:00.000-08:00

As a crafter, not only do we make our items, we must handle web design (including pesky HTML and now CSS!), photo editing, marketing and networking, sales, accounting, purchasing supplies and most important, finding suitable venues for our items. Don't even get me started on advertising!I've come to realize that this is a lot of work! 2008 was a great year for Fioresi Designs with respect to

Blogging from my Blackberry

2008-12-31T11:14:00.000-08:00

Testing 123

...Someone in Our Family Has a Drinking Problem

2008-12-31T07:12:00.000-08:00

In order to protect his anonymity, I won't mention any names. "Mr. X's" problem is so severe that he is driven to drink during the middle of the night!The pic above was taken at 3 a.m. this morning. I awoke to the sound of running water and upon my discovery, Mr. X had not only turned on the faucet but he was drinking like a fish!I can't wait until I get my water bill!